Gardasil (HPV Vaccine)

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

GENERIC NAME: Recombinant Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent Vaccine

BRAND NAME: Gardasil

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Gardasil is a human papillomavirus (HPV)
vaccine. Gardasil is a sterile preparation for intramuscular injection and
contains purified inactive proteins from HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. The
proteins in Gardasil are structural, virus-like proteins (VLP) that resemble the
HPV virus. The proteins can activate the immune system but cannot give rise to
replicating virus. Viral proteins used in Gardasil are manufactured in yeast
cells (S. cerevisiae) using recombinant technology. Once released from yeast
cells, the VLPs are purified, combined with a catalyst (amorphous aluminum
hydroxyphosphate sulfate) and a purification buffer. Human papillomavirus causes
cervical cancer, cervical adenocarcinoma, vaginal cancer,
genital warts, and
anal cancer. Gardasil works by stimulating the immune system to attack HPV types
6, 11, 16, and 18. Once Gardasil is administered, the body's immune system
recognizes the viral proteins in Gardasil as foreign, and develops antibodies
against them, thus providing immunity from future infections. In the event of
HPV exposure following vaccination, the body will already be primed to fight the
infection. HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 are commonly associated with
HPV
infections. HPV 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancer and HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18
cause approximately 90% of genital warts. The FDA approved Gardasil in June
2007.